“‘That’s wot I thought,’ ses William Hall; ‘that’s why I brought ’em to you.’ “‘You deserve to get on, William,’ ses Foxy. ‘George,’ he ses, turning to ’im. “‘Yes,’ ses George. “‘Do you know much about pigs?’ “‘I know a pig when I see one,’ ses George. “‘That’s all I want,’ ses Foxy; ‘go and ’ave a look at ’em.’ “William Hall gave a start as George walked out, and a minute afterwards both of ’em ’eard an awful noise, and George came back rubbing ’is ’ead and saying that when ’e lifted up the cloth one o’ the pigs was William Hall’s sister and the others was ’er nephews. William said it was a joke, but Foxy said he didn’t like jokes, and if William thought that ’e or George was going to walk with ’im past the dog ’e was mistook. “Two days arter that, Foxy, ’appening to look out of ’is bedroom window, saw one o’ the Claybury boys racing ’is cows all up and down the meadow. He came down quietly and took up a stick, and then ’e set out to race that boy up and down. He’d always been a good runner, and the boy was ’alf-blown like. ’E gave a yell as ’e saw Foxy coming arter ’im, and left the cow ’e was chasin’ and ran straight for the ’edge, with Foxy close behind ’im. “Foxy was within two yards of ’im when ’e suddenly caught sight of a blue bonnet waiting behind the ’edge, and ’e turned round and went back to the ’ouse as fast as ’e could go and locked ’imself in. And ’e ’ad to sit there, half-busting, all the morning, and watch that boy chase ’is best cows up and down the meadow without daring to go out and stop ’im. “He sent George down to tell the boy’s father that night, and the father sent back word that if Foxy ’ad got anything to say agin ’is boy why didn’t ’e come down like a man and say it hisself? “Arter about three weeks o’ this sort o’ thing Foxy Green began to see that ’e would ’ave to get married whether he liked it or not, and ’e told George so. George’s idea was for ’im to get the oldest woman in Claybury to ask ’im in marriage, because then he’d soon be single agin. It was a good idea, on’y Foxy didn’t seem to fancy it. “‘Who do you think is the prettiest gal in Claybury, George?’ he ses. “‘Flora Pottle,’ ses George, at once. “‘That’s exactly my idea,’ ses Foxy; ‘if I’ve got to marry, I’ll marry ’er. However, I’ll sleep on it a night and see ’ow I feel in the morning.’ I’ll marry Flora Pottle,’ he ses, when ’e got up. ‘You can go round this arternoon, George, and break the good news to ’er.’ “George tidied hisself up arter dinner and went. Flora Pottle was a very fine-looking gal, and she was very much surprised when George walked in, but she was more surprised when ’e told ’er that if she was to go over and ask Foxy to be ’er ’usband he wouldn’t say ‘No.’ “Mrs. Pottle jumped out of ’er skin for joy a’most. She’d ’ad a ’ard time of it with Flora and five young children since ’er ’usband died, and she could ’ardly believe ’er ears when Flora said she wouldn’t. “‘’E’s old enough to be my father,’ she ses.